Written Answers. - Educational Projects.
Question:
169
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will give details of all special initiatives and programmes under way to promote the access of disadvantaged groups and communities to third level education.
[2405/99]
My Department has a range of measures in place to further the promotion of equality of access to third level education. The need for a holistic approach to promote equality rather than policies focused only on the third level sector and on the transition from second to third level, is well established. My Department provides direct funding for three access initiatives involving Ballymun Comprehensive and Dublin City University; the Southill area in Limerick and University of Limerick and eleven second level schools and Trinity College Dublin. These initiatives involve linkages between the colleges and local second level schools and incorporate supervised study facilities, extra tuition for pupils, information and advice for parents and pupils, including seminars, mentoring and support teaching in key subject areas.
In relation to measures specifically targeted at third level, the Higher Education Authority has provided funding since 1996, for initiatives in a number of colleges specifically relating to disadvantaged students. These initiatives, similar to the Department's access initiatives, also involve links with second level schools and local communities. The programmes will assist some students to meet the points requirement for courses, enabling them to obtain a college place through the standard CAO entry procedure. The other aspect of the programmes is the special entry arrangements through which more flexible entry criteria are applied and various supports put in place for students entering by this method. Support for the university proposals is very firmly based on the intention of meeting targets and progress reports are submitted to the Higher Education Authority on each of the programmes funded.
In the technological sector, the Dublin Institute of Technology has a comprehensive set of activities in which the institute is interacting with different disadvantaged groups in Dublin city. There are currently a number of courses in place for mature students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, a decision has been taken by the Dublin Institute of Technology authorities that direct entry should occur in relation to second level students who are socio-economically disadvantaged and who do not meet the normal admission criteria. A full-time community education links co-ordinating officer has been appointed to Dublin Institute of Technology. The role of the co-ordinator is to identify, develop and co-ordinate the different initiatives of Dublin Institute of Technology in respect of disadvantaged communities in inner-city Dublin in order to increase their awareness of and participation in education, particularly at third level.
In a recent survey, Dublin Institute of Technology established that 216 leaving certificate students, nationally, from disadvantaged status schools, registered in Dublin Institute of Technology courses last year. A policy document entitled "Access to Education in the Dublin Institute of Technology for those who are Socio-Economically Disadvantaged" has recently been adopted by the Dublin Institute of Technology. The objective of this initiative is to put in place appropriate programmes to ultimately allow access to Dublin Institute of Technology via direct entry for 100 socio-economically disadvantaged young people per year by the year 2002. The programme will target disadvantaged status schools in the inner city and its environs.
A new national certificate in technology course, which was developed by a joint education/industry task force and targeted in particular at non-standard applicants, commenced in January 1998 in nine institutes of technology. This initiative is in line with the commitment in Partnership 2000 to give priority to a strategy to enable non-standard applicants to participate in third level education. Almost 300 places were approved for the programme which runs over 18 months and involves structured work-placement. A further intake of 500 on these course was sanctioned for January 1999.
Full-time summer courses in Information Technology were conducted for 255 students in eight centres in institutes of technology and Dublin City University from June to September 1998. These courses were aimed at providing a new nationwide opportunity of access to rigorous introductory studies in IT. Of the students attending these courses, 103 were social welfare recipients.
In August 1998, the NCEA launched a foundation certificate course designed to provide adult students who wish to embark on a course of third level study with an appropriate foundation which will provide support and extend their opportunities for admission to higher education.
The institutes of technology equality network project which arose out of the EU programme new opportunities for women, is operational in six institutes of technology. Programmes under the project are specifically aimed at encouraging more participation by women in third level education, with a specific focus on women who have been disadvantaged by a lack of educational opportunities. It is envisaged that there will be an expansion of the programmes under this project to include those colleges not already participating in the scheme. In addition, the Dublin Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology offer specific courses for second chance education for mature and disadvantaged women. There is also a pilot scheme which enables holders of NCVA level 2 awards to progress to designated certificate and diploma courses in the institutes of technology, which is an important development in establishing alternative progression pathways for students to higher levels of education and training.
In September 1998, I announced that the Government had allocated £20 million to fund the capital costs of the first phase of a new institute of technology at Blanchardstown. The institute will open in September 1999 and will have 900 student places in its first phase of development. It is intended that the institute will make a major impact on improving the educational opportunities open to the community it will serve. The establishment board of the institute has been asked to ensure that a high proportion of students are non-standard entrants – mature students, people with disabilities and the unemployed. In addition to these existing measures, I have announced details of the 1998 budget package to tackle educational disadvantage, which involves a two year funding initiative to tackle educational disadvantage at all levels. Of this funding, £6.9 million is being allocated to the third level sector, of which £3 million is being specifically allocated to promote access to third level amongst students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including people with disabilities. I will announce details of the allocation of the additional resources in due course when I have fully considered how best to proceed in this area.
